TAMPA, Fla. - The 2025 USL League Two Playoffs presented by VensureHR kick into gear tomorrow with 16 Round of 32 clashes on the schedule. This year’s tournament is littered with quality teams and tantalizing matchups that will have every club dreaming of a trophy. Find all you need to know about how the 32 teams got to this point and what they will bring into Friday’s action. 

FC Motown STA vs. Western Mass Pioneers -- Virtue Field -- Fri 7/18 4:00 p.m. ET 

FC Motown STA finished the regular season with the most points per match out of any team in League Two. An impressive feat that was kicked into action by its early-season statement win over the Long Island Rough Riders. Motown’s defense held strong in the second half of the season, only giving up two goals in its final six games. This team will be a tough opponent for anyone that lies in its path. 

Western Mass was seconds away from winning the Northeast Division title, but a Vermont Green FC miracle sent them to the Eastern Conference First Round. But the Pioneers regrouped and took care of business at home over Long Island. With dynamic playmakers in its lineup like Oskar Kaufmann, Robert Lyons, and Israel Neto, Western Mass won’t be phased by any opponent they face in the gauntlet of this year’s Eastern Conference playoff field.  

Northern Virginia FC vs. West Chester United SC – TowneBank Stadium -- Fri 7/18 4:00 p.m. ET 

Northern Virginia FC took command of the Chesapeake Division this year, winning the season series against each of the three teams that finished below them. The division champs scored 14 goals in its final three regular season games. Gage Lyons and Chris Niblock lead the way on offense for NoVa having scored 12 and nine goals, respectively. A team you can’t count them out until the final whistle blows, always be warry of a late comeback from them.  

West Chester United SC makes its first League Two playoff appearance since 2021 when it got all the way to the Eastern Conference Final. West Chester held opponents to one goal or less seven times this season. On offense, the charge is led by Ayoub Mouhou. With Northern Virginia coming in as favorites, this squad will be eager to make some noise.  

Vermont Green FC vs. Hudson Valley Hammers -- Virtue Field -- Fri 7/18 7:00 p.m. ET 

The vibes have been immaculate up in Vermont, which is par for the course. This season the Green leveled up, winning its first division title in club history thanks to an improbable stoppage time comeback against Western Mass. Zachary Zengue has led the way on offense, but it has been far from a one-man show as over 15 players have gotten on the scoresheet this year for Vermont. For Vermont, its all in this year, with eyes on the biggest prize of them all. 

Hudson Valley has earned some massive wins this year. The Hammers defeated Long Island at home to clinch its playoff berth and quieted the crowd in Ocean City to win its First Round matchup 3-1. This is a scrapy squad with talent up and down the lineup. Hammers veteran Nick Zielonka has led the way once again. Young guns Kyle Evans and Francis Bonsu are also providing a spark that will have this team ready to make some noise against anyone.  

Lionsbridge FC vs. Salem City FC – TowneBank Stadium -- Fri 7/18 7:30 p.m. ET 

Lionsbridge FC roared its way into the Round of 32 with a commanding win in the Eastern Conference First Round thanks to a Ricky Louis second-half hat trick. This team, when things are connected, can score at will. Its defense has been a question mark at points this season, and against a Salem City squad that has earned big wins against big teams, that will be put to the test. 

Salem City FC returns to the playoffs for the second year in a row as South Atlantic Division champions. Salem has been solid defensively all year; in nine of its 12 games Salem limited its opponents to one goal or less. Offense has come from different sources for Salem this year. They won’t be intimidated by Lionsbridge’s atmosphere, having gotten some big wins on the road this year.

Laredo Heat SC vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC -- Premier Sports Complex -- Fri 7/18 4:00 p.m. ET 

Laredo Heat SC ran the Lone Star Division in its first season in League Two. The Heat's defense was a huge reason for its success, only giving up more than one goal in a game twice. Up front, Laredo is led by Kai Louviere, who spent time in San Antonio FC’s academy. The Heat like to control the pace of the game and pressure the opposition until they break but can also strike on the counterattack. Laredo comes into the tournament with something to prove in its debut USL season.  

Fort Lauderdale United FC got off to a hot start in May, going 5-0-0, scoring 10 goals and conceding zero goals. But they cooled off with tough results against South Florida Division champions Sarasota Paradise. Fort Lauderdale’s offensive engine is fueled by Carlos Zambrano, the USL League Two Player of the Month for May 2025. Fort Lauderdale needed a win in its final game against St. Petersburg FC with a playoff berth on the line for both teams and took all three points on the road. This team will come in full of confidence after that big victory.  

Asheville City SC vs. Louisiana Krewe FC -- Rip Hewes Stadium -- Fri 7/18 4:00 p.m. ET 

Asheville City SC led the pack in the South Central Division this season, not getting scored on for 515 minutes to start its season. Up front, Tony Kim and Edouard Nys have led the charge for this dynamic squad that averages over three goals scored per game. Two scoreless draws in its final three regular season games will mean Asheville will be eager to get on the scoresheet quickly in this conference quarterfinal matchup. 

Louisiana Krewe FC became the first team from Louisiana in League Two history to qualify for the playoffs, but their aspirations certainly won’t stop there. The Krewe catapulted itself to the top of the Mid South Division standings with an impressive early season win against the Little Rock Rangers. Louisiana has gotten goal contributions from up and down the lineup, and its best results have come from games where the team looked in sync with one another. The Krewe faltered in their final game of the season, letting the division title slip from its grasp, but will still be eager to make some noise in its playoff debut. 

Sarasota Paradise vs. Sporting JAX -- Premier Sports Complex -- Fri 7/18 7:30 p.m. ET 

The vibes have been high this season in Sarasota as the Paradise grinded through the season to secure a playoff berth for the second consecutive year. Sarasota’s season kicked into gear after a 2-1 road win over Fort Lauderdale United FC, who at the time were setting the pace in the South Florida Division. The Paradise has earned wins by dominating the scoresheet and sneaking in late winners. With a division title and the home crowd behind them, this club is looking to make a run.  

Sporting JAX had an inconsistent start to the season, taking four points from its first four games. Once June came around, the club found its form and rattled off five wins in a row and won seven of its final eight matches. Osei Gyamfi has been a bright spot for JAX with six goals and one assist. The League Two newcomers are ready to make some noise in a Sarasota pod that is filled with quality.  

Dothan United vs. Little Rock Rangers -- Rip Hewes Stadium -- Fri 7/18 8:30 p.m. ET 

Dothan United missed out on the playoffs by four points last year, and this season made sure to earn its place in the postseason. The Dragons rattled off a six-game win streak, before falling to eventual South Central Division champion, Asheville City SC. Lawrence Goddard is the player to watch on Dothan. With his eight goals this season, defenders will not want to leave him alone near the box. 

Little Rock is a perennial favorite in the Southern Conference, making its third consecutive playoff appearance. The Rangers put up some big scorelines this season and saw goal contributions from across the lineup. They faltered in an early season match against Louisiana Krewe FC but stuck with it until the final regular season match and came out on top as Mid South Division champs. This is a club with experience, having won at least one playoff game each of the last two years.

Fort Wayne FC vs. Midwest United FC -- Atwood Stadium -- Fri 7/18 4:00 p.m. ET 

This matchup is a rematch of last year’s Central Conference Quarterfinal that saw Fort Wayne FC move on after a penalty shootout. This season, Fort Wayne has been led by a next-man-up mentality on offense, without one singular player leading the charge in goal-scoring. Defensively, they were solid through most of the campaign, earning clean sheets in seven of its 12 matches. Fort Wayne will hope for the same result as last year, with a few less nerves involved.  

Midwest United FC started 2025 on the wrong foot, losing their first two matches. After that, Midwest took 28 points from its final 10 games, including two 2-0 victories over Flint City Bucks. Vitalis Takawira has torn up opponents this season, netting seven goals to date. With clean sheets in its final two games, Midwest will come into the playoffs feeling good on both sides of the ball. 

Minneapolis City SC vs. Peoria City -- Valley Stadium -- Fri 7/18 4:00 p.m. ET 

Going into its final match of the season, the odds were stacked against Minneapolis City SC who needed to win by two goals to secure a Heartland Division crown. Things didn’t look good giving up the first goal, but the Crows quickly found their feet, and a four-goal first half gave them exactly what they needed to win the division. Shea Bechtel, who played hero last Saturday, and Jackson Kirsch have been the offensive engine for Minneapolis this season as the club gears up for its first League Two playoff appearance.  

Peoria City was 90 minutes away from a championship last year, just falling short to Seacoast United Phantoms in the 2024 USL League Two Final. Peoria came back this year looking for revenge. Look for DJ Koulai and Luke Persenico to lead the charge for the Carps on offense. The team hit a few stumbling blocks along the way, including a surprising last game home loss to Springfield FC, but with experience throughout its lineup, Peoria will be ready for whatever the postseason throws at them.  

Flint City Bucks vs. Steel City FC -- Atwood Stadium -- Fri 7/18 7:30 p.m. ET 

Flint City Bucks has made the playoffs every year of the League Two era and now has won the Great Lakes Division three years in a row. Its talisman Donavan Phillip has been nearly unstoppable with 12 goals on the year, including a hat trick in the previous match. Flint’s only two losses came against Midwest United FC, meaning they’ll be eager to prove themselves as the competition stiffens up in the playoffs.  

Steel City FC was sharp throughout the year, coming out on top in a close Great Forest Division. Captain Nicholas Graeca stepped up for his club, converting the late penalty in Steel City’s final home match to crown them as division champs. Steel City don’t shy away from the dramatics, winning multiple games this year late on, meaning the pressure of playoff soccer won’t phase them.  

Des Moines Menace vs. Sueño FC -- Valley Stadium -- Fri 7/18 8:00 p.m. ET 

Des Moines won its second division title in a row after a campaign filled with goals. The Menace’s lineup is brimmed with talent, headlined by Dominick Bachstein’s nine-goal campaign up front. Its defense is just as notable with guys like Shuntaro Endo in the backline and Enzo Carvalho in goal. This is a deep team that will fancy its chances against any opponent.  

Sueño FC is happy with how its season has gone so far, earning 16 more points than it did last season, but the work isn’t done. Letting the Heartland Division title slip from its grasp will leave a bad taste as they gear up to play spoiler in Des Moines. Michael Nesci has been hot this season, scoring nine goals. Sueño hasn’t kept a clean sheet all season, so against an explosive Menace team, they will need to be ready to score.

Utah United vs. Snohomish United -- Interbay Stadium -- Fri 7/18 5:00 p.m. ET 

Utah United took its division by storm this year, becoming the first team to clinch a spot in the postseason. Shutout victories were the norm for Utah this year. Over 10 different players got on the scoresheet this year for Utah. The biggest question around them will be the 20 days they’ve gone without game action and if they will come out firing or need time to shake off the rust.  

Snohomish United impressed in its debut League Two season, finishing in the top two of a potent Northwest Division. Most impressive was taking four points from its two matchups against division champs Ballard FC. Results haven’t been consistent throughout the season, but scoring first will be essential for Snohomish as it hasn’t lost a game where it got the first goal. 

Almaden FC vs. FC Tucson -- Ventura College Sportsplex -- Fri 7/18 7:00 p.m. ET 

Almaden FC returns to the playoffs looking to avenge its Round of 32 exit from the previous season.  Most of Almaden’s season featured low-scoring affairs, which will be an interesting clash with FC Tucson’s explosive offense. Arnold Matshazi led the way with seven goals for Almaden. Its two wins over San Juan this year ended up making the difference in the Nor Cal Division race.  

FC Tucson got off to a red hot start this season but sputtered in its final few games. Tucson had three players score six or more goals, and as a team scored 55 goals in the year. Last year’s Western Conference champions will be ready to repeat and make it further knowing it has the squad to compete with the best.  

Ballard FC vs. Colorado Storm -- Interbay Stadium -- Fri 7/18 10:30 p.m. ET 

It’s been another season of good vibes for Ballard FC, winning its third consecutive division title. As defending League Two champs last year, its playoff hopes were cut short, something Ballard will be keen to not repeat. It was a group effort for Ballard on both sides of the ball, showing off its squad depth throughout the season. As Ballard hosts this weekend, they’ll have their rowdy fans behind them to help push them over the edge.  

Colorado Storm was one of the last teams to book its playoff ticket but did it in style with a 7-0 home win over CISA. The Storm will come into this conference quarterfinal matchup as the underdog but has plenty of reason to believe it can pull off the upset. 12 different players got on the scoresheet for Colorado this season, and the Storm scored at least four goals in four of its final five games.  

Ventura County Fusion vs. San Juan SC -- Ventura College Sportsplex -- Fri 7/18 10:00 p.m. ET 

Ventura County Fusion won the Southwest Division for the second year in a row and is looking to make a conference finals appearance for the third time in four years. Ventura hit some stumbling blocks during the season but always found a way to get back on track. Scoring came by committee for the Fusion this year and its defense was in tune also, only giving up more than one goal three times this year and never giving up more than two. 

San Juan were sprinting out of the gate having six wins by the time June started. But a spread-out schedule through the rest of the campaign slowed them down. San Juan fumbled a chance to win the Nor Cal Division on the final weekend of the regular season. Short memories will be important for these quality teams as there are no easy teams in this Western Conference pod.